SNP claim only independence can save NHS from further cuts

Life support: The Scottish Government says UK governments will continue to cut services.© Flickr/ brykmantra

Nationalists have claimed only independence will protect the health service in Scotland from further swingeing cuts.

The SNP say the Scottish Government has a "cast-iron commitment" to protect the principles of the NHS after it emerged health boards will have to find £270m in savings next year.

Figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPIC) show almost £100,000 is lost from the Scottish block grant for health for every £1m that is cut from the UK budget.

The government arranged support packages last year for three health boards that were struggling with their finances, helping to ensure that all 23 boards balanced their books for the fourth year in a row.

Bob Doris, deputy convener of the Health and Sport Committee, believes independence will protect NHS budgets in the long term.

He said: "The privatisation agenda by the Tories and Labour south of the border in areas such as healthcare has highlighted the benefits of having a Scottish Parliament that has protected the founding principles of a public NHS in Scotland, free at the point of need.

"It is only because the NHS in Scotland is already effectively independent that it is not being run into the ground by the Tories, as we are witnessing in England.

"Indeed, the way in which the health service is being run in Scotland underpins the case for decisions in all areas to be taken in Scotland.

"Ultimately, the only way for Scotland's NHS to be protected in the long term is for all of the economic and policy decisions to be made here in Scotland, and for Scotland to be in charge of our own resources with an independent Parliament."

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